Soil, water health cards for aquaculture farmers

This is the first time in the country, soil and water health cards are being issued in fisheries sector. Early this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a similar scheme for agriculture farmers with a target of distributing 14 crore soil health cards over the span of next 3 years.

CIBA director Dr K.K. Vijayan told the Deccan Chronicle on the sidelines of a programme in Mahabalipuram that across the globe there is an increased attention towards nurturing the soil, which is

why 2015 is being observed as International Year of Soils.

Under the initiative, several Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR) institutes, state agricultural universities, krishi

vigyan kendras and state agricultural departments are being involved to

collect the samples from various farmer ponds and issue the soil and water health cards.

Dr Vijayan said the information provided in the cards are useful to farmers in understanding the nutrients status of the soils and water quality which will help in managing the pond soil and water parameters to the optimum.

The soil and water health cards records seven soil parameters and nine water parameters. Dr. P. Ravichandran, Member Secretary of Coastal Aquaculture

Authority (CAA) said that there is a strong chemical and feed suppliers lobby, which often misleads the farmers. He told the DC that CAA was trying to bring some regulations.

Muttukadu to have sophisticated testing centre: CIBA experimental station near Muttukadu on East Coast Road will shortly have a sophisticated testing centre for the benefit of hundreds of aquaculture farmers.

Dr Vijayan said that a project proposal has been already submitted to the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) for funding support. The project would cost Rs 1.5 crore. “It would also be a referral lab. The fishermen or shrimp farmers or have their feed or seed samples tested here for nominal fee to ensure better harvest. Even, hatcheries people can get their stocks tested.